Upholding PHI During Difficult Situations
Your best friend tells you that they have started to date a wonderful person. When introduced, you immediately recognize that they are a patient in the medical practice that you currently work at. This person has a long history of drug and alcohol abuse and is currently receiving treatment by one of your physicians’. The patient has also been previously arrested for driving under the influence.
Demonstrate how you would handle the above patient PHI situation with your best friend.
Include the following aspects in the discussion:
- Outline what information (if any) you can disclose to your best friend?
- Would it be appropriate for you to speak to the patient directly about their medical history since they are seeing your best friend?
- Discuss if there is anything that you may be able to say to your best friend without acknowledging that they are a patient.
- Discuss if you feel this would be a challenging situation to be in and if you feel HIPAA Is too strict?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor and a person with a strong sense of ethical responsibilities, upholding the confidentiality and privacy of patient health information (PHI) is crucial. In this situation, it is not only imperative to abide by the HIPAA guidelines, but also to maintain the trust of the patient, the physician, and the best friend.
Answer:
In this scenario, the best way to handle the situation is to be honest and transparent with the best friend, while still upholding the patient’s confidentiality. I would outline to the friend that due to HIPAA regulations and ethical responsibilities, I cannot disclose any medical or personal information about the patient. I would explain that it is essential to protect the patient’s privacy and maintain their trust in the physician and the medical practice.
It would not be appropriate to speak directly to the patient about their medical history since it is not my role or my best friend’s role to do so. If the patient has previously given consent to share their medical information with someone else, then I would first confirm that this consent is still valid, and then I would approach the patient to discuss the situation. However, if the patient has not granted consent, then I would not disclose any details.
There may be some general information that I could provide to my friend about drug and alcohol abuse and treatment, without acknowledging that the person is a patient. This information would not breach the patient’s confidentiality but would help my friend understand the severity of the situation and why it’s important for the patient to receive proper treatment.
Although following HIPAA regulations may seem too strict, it is necessary to protect the privacy and dignity of the patient. Breaking the confidentiality of a patient’s health information could have serious consequences for the patient, the physician and the medical practice. Ultimately, it is our duty as healthcare professionals and individuals to uphold high ethical standards and protect patient privacy in all situations.
